In this episode of Inside the Arthouse, hosts Greg Laemmle and Raphael Sbarge, sit down with Iraqi-American filmmaker Oday Rasheed and actor-writer-producer Jess Jacobs to explore their new drama If You See Something.

Rasheed’s American debut tells the story of Ali, an Iraqi doctor seeking asylum in New York, and Katie, an ambitious American art-gallery professional. When personal and social crises collide, their relationship becomes a powerful lens for examining identity, belonging, and human connection in a world of displacement.

Jacobs shares her journey – from writing and starring in the film to producing it – and discusses how she brings sensitivity, nuance, and emotional honesty to stories of migration and integration.

New York Women in Film & Television

Together, Rasheed and Jacobs unpack:

How to approach storytelling about asylum and immigration without falling into clichés

The challenges and rewards of making a personal film in the US as an outsider/insider

The role of art and cinema in exploring real-world displacement, love, and hope

What it takes to make a studio-scale indie film with heart, risk, and meaning

Join us for a rich conversation that goes beyond the frame: filming in New York, balancing intimacy and scope, and the impact of a story that asks: What does belonging really feel like when everything around you is uncertain?

Oday Rasheed interview, Jess Jacobs interview, If You See Something film, immigration drama 2025, refugee story movie, Inside the Arthouse podcast, independent film interview, arthouse cinema, migration in film, Iraqi American director

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